Thanh Chuong Tea Fields, Nghe An

The Thanh Chuong Tea Fields are a large lake with small islands filled with tea fields. The unique view is quite impressive. More than being a place that is worth visiting in its own right, it is the location that makes this so important. Half way between Ninh Binh or Pu Luong in the north and Phong Nha in the south, an ideal stop over when travelling between these locations. More importantly it is a much better stop and much better ride to get here than to stop in Vinh along the coast. 

Getting to Thanh Chuong Tea Fields with Motorbike

220km north of Phong Nha via the QL15 and the HCM Road, it is a full day’s ride. This section has good quality and quiet roads. Much more well populated compared to the HCM Road between Phong Nha and Khe Sanh, there are plenty of restaurants and cafes in the small towns on the way for stops. 

North of here you can reach Pu Luong in 250km and Ninh Binh in between 250km – 280km depending how quickly you get off the QL1A. The sooner the better for this as the QL1A is well known for being the worst road in Vietnam, busy, full of trucks and buses, it is a noisy, dangerous ride. Comparatively the QL16, HCM Road and QL15 which are inland are much nicer.  

Where to Stay

There aren’t too many options for accommodation here. The one that would be recommended is staying on the homestays directly on the lake. As this area isn’t too well known and is more popular with bikers than other tourists, it is not usually crowded. As such the small number of homestays usually have space and don’t require booking too far in advance.

The only alternative is staying in the nearby town close to the river. This isn’t as close to the HCM Road which you should be riding on and the accommodation will be basic Nha Nghi, guesthouses. Meaning less convenient and not as nice.

Tea Islands

This is the main highlight here. The large lake has a number of islands and peninsulas covered in tea fields. You can walk freely amongst the tree plants here with pathways connecting much of the area together. 

Short boat tours are also available here to explore the lake more, these are required for some of the homestays which are located on one of the islands.  

Kayaking & Paddle Boarding

If you wake up or arrive early enough then you have the option to take a kayak or paddle board out into the lake. For a small fee many of the homestays have this option available. 

The water here is clean, and refreshing in spring through autumn, making it a great activity to take part in especially after a long ride. 

Sunflower Hills

Still in Nghe An but 100km north of Thanh Chuong Tea Fields are the Sunflower Hills, a large meadow of sunflowers. Close by to the QL15 and half way on the day’s ride to the north, it is a good stop off for lunch and to break up the journey. 

The meadow of sunflowers stretches out over the hills creating a never-ending feeling of golden yellow flowers. You can ride right up to the flowers to get a good photo.

Summary

Location is key for Thanh Chuong Tea Fields. An ideal night’s stop when heading north or south. With not much else in the surrounding area, this the best option. A much better alternative to Vinh as the roads to Vinh are much busier and worse than the roads to Thanh Chuong. 

Related Routes

For those heading between HCMC and Hanoi then Thanh Chuong Tea Fields would be included in all of our routes, which you can find here.